woollies the bullies !!!!

[mighty_tiger_79]

are Woolies really bullies?

yes I saw the development of that servo as i travel past it every night for work

but the Liberty next door is selling fuel cheaper then woolies are after the discount

the only downside to the little liberty is the shop is small and doesnt offer a lot, whereas the woolies servo's are a mini mart with plenty of room

Woolies are only doing whats best for their shareholders and stakeholders

There are other companies in other industries that do the same thing

the sad thing is Coles and Woolies have got there fingers in a lot of pies, they will eventually rule the country

Coles - selling 2 litre milk for $2 i believe - thats bullying the dairy farmers

coles - selling bread for a $1 is screwing over the little bakeries

I guess woolies are doing the same thing

if people are really passionate about these bullies they will shop somewhere, but the problem is it will never happen

[Darth Vader]

I paid $5.20 for two litres of milk from my local shop this morning. The thing is it would have cost me than $4 to drive to the nearest Woolies and back. And how often have you gone into Woolies/Coles/Foodland/Aldi and come out with just one item? Never in a million years. Its always "Oh yeah I'll have that, one of those, a packet of this and shi1t! thats on special so better grab two of them" etc blah blah and $100 later you come home with your container of cheap milk and feel really good about it.

[sherminator]

I was talking to someone quite some time ago who was trying to start a small food business and was looking for stores who would take their product. I assumed they would be looking to get their products into the Woolies & Coles stores. They told me that those chains actually charge small producers for shelf space which seriously diminished his margins. Basically they make a profit on each item sold plus charge the supplier for the 'privilege' of stocking their products. I guess that does make sense, but I wonder whether the IGA's, Foodlands are the same?

[FlyingHigh]

sherminator, believe they have been doing that to fruit and veg producers for at least the last 7-8 years.

[Strawb]

Aldi are a german company that sell nearly everything. I have shopped there for ages since my Local IGA jacked up their prices. I am used to packing my own bags so it doesn't bother me that much and I normally buy everything I need under the one roof. They have many different items like TV's, Computers and electrical stuff.

[grant j]

My shopping centre down South has both Foodland and Woollies in it. The latter established around 3-4 years ago, and there was a perception that they would force out Foodland and the local fruit and veg shop. Interestingly, both shops still thrive there, with the locals seemingly very keen to support both of them.

I usually shop at Foodland there, for the great service, good prices and knowing its supporting a more local store than the giants.

I reckon we shop at the same place then CK

The other good thing about Foodland is they seem to try and buy local - where they can.
For instance I'm pretty sure they are the only supermarket that sells Beerenberg products?

We have a coles close by - which I use when convenient.
The only thing I go into Woolworths for is if they have cheap drink/can specials.

I reckon we do, Mum - the same shopping centre as the Caffe Acqua "All You Can Eat" breakfast on Sunday mornings for $11.90, which I used to love, before the diet and exercise regime forbade it

I shop at the same shopping centre.
Newsagent a mad Port supporter, decent bloke. Butcher is a Glenelg supporter, even better bloke

Ate at the Caffe the other Sunday cause the Deep Blue Cafe was packed. Deep Blue brekkie definitely better

[Bully]

no one likes being bullied out of anything but the simple fact is woolworths/safeway and coles were nothing when they started. This was many many years ago. They are giants now due to us buying from them. But they are a business trying to make them selves bigger then the opposition which ALL businesses do. another example - Beaumont tiles are in Brisbane now...started in adelaide as a single shop selling tiles now look at them.. They are bullying out other competetors. This happens in all industries.

I dont disagree with this topic as i dont like giving woolworths or coles my money but they were small businesses like everyone else. Why would you if you started a supermarket chain and became bigger then woolworths and coles let the small business chains get a foot in the door. This would destroy your business like every other business in the world, without customers then you dont survive??. yeah i have a car yard but joe blow down the road has a bigger car yard and he is selling cars for cheaper then me...why would the customer come to me if they can get a cheaper price

They are bullys yes but they are a business like everyone else in the world trying to kick the comp out of the way. It kills the comsumer but what can you do??

if you dont like it...dont shop there. all this complaining about petrol which i do also...dont go there??? go somewhere else. they may have a higher price but its your choice.

[Sojourner]

Foodland at Munno Para and Pasadena are significantly cheaper than either of Coles or Woolworths and have about three times the range of product, makes the choice an easy one!

[Darth Vader]

I heard the carpark at Munno Para was a bit dodgy. Little old ladies getting their bags snatched - that sort of thing

[brod]

I heard the carpark at Munno Para was a bit dodgy. Little old ladies getting their bags snatched - that sort of thing

The car park is just the first hurdle..once you get inside the locals just multiply and are around every turn (that being said i know this cos i go there due to Dan Murphys (Woolies) and Bunnings (Westfarmers))

Having been on the inside Woolworths success is quite remarkable. 25 years ago they were nearly belly up and their shares had a value of approx $4, now they are trying to own Australia (plus their interests in NZ and India) and shares are at $28..its simply through trying to have as many dirty little fingers in as many dirty little pies as possible

[CK]

My shopping centre down South has both Foodland and Woollies in it. The latter established around 3-4 years ago, and there was a perception that they would force out Foodland and the local fruit and veg shop. Interestingly, both shops still thrive there, with the locals seemingly very keen to support both of them.

I usually shop at Foodland there, for the great service, good prices and knowing its supporting a more local store than the giants.

I reckon we shop at the same place then CK

The other good thing about Foodland is they seem to try and buy local - where they can.
For instance I'm pretty sure they are the only supermarket that sells Beerenberg products?

We have a coles close by - which I use when convenient.
The only thing I go into Woolworths for is if they have cheap drink/can specials.

I reckon we do, Mum - the same shopping centre as the Caffe Acqua "All You Can Eat" breakfast on Sunday mornings for $11.90, which I used to love, before the diet and exercise regime forbade it

I shop at the same shopping centre.
Newsagent a mad Port supporter, decent bloke. Butcher is a Glenelg supporter, even better bloke

Ate at the Caffe the other Sunday cause the Deep Blue Cafe was packed. Deep Blue brekkie definitely better

I've wondered what theirs is like. It often seems nearly empty (most people seem to head to BB's at the other end). Might have to give it a go. One of the better Cheap As Chips going around also, and have probably spent too much in the Big W DVD department (jagged a Johnny Cash live DVD tonight for $3.84 there)

[Barto]

correct me if i am wrong but arent they doing whats best for their buisness
if they get bigger through general community support good luck to them

People can whine about their business practices all they like, but I bet they'll still shop there if prices are low.

Walmart in the US is a prime example of this. Local communities scream about these places when they come to town but flock there to buy cheap stuff.

[brod]

correct me if i am wrong but arent they doing whats best for their buisness
if they get bigger through general community support good luck to them

People can whine about their business practices all they like, but I bet they'll still shop there if prices are low.

Walmart in the US is a prime example of this. Local communities scream about these places when they come to town but flock there to buy cheap stuff.

Same arguement about Hot Cross Buns....Woolies sell them all year round without the Cross (only a handful of packet/day), put a cross on them and you sell ten times, yet people bitch about them being on shelves...its cos people buy them

[Psyber]

Aldi is a supermarket chain on the eastern states of australia. possibly only brisbane i think. But they are a german company and they are in comp with woolies and coles. But their product lines arent that good example -

a mars bar is called a mix bar
packet of allens snakes are some brand from overseas high in sugar
biscuits they have are like arnotts but not arnotts and are ten times the sweetness and sugar content..
a cherry ripe bar is called a ripple bar etc etc..

all the brands the big chains dont stock. but their fruit and veg is top quality. their checkout servers dont pack your bags for you u have to do that yourself. the opperators sit in a chair and dont move. Maybe 4 isles in each shop that are normally jammed pack with people.

I went into the one near Ferntree Gully a couple of times but wasn't impressed with the stock or range - nor the prices for what you got.
We tended to shop at the Maxi there, and periodically drop into Coles at Malvern on the way back from occasional trips to the city for things that were not stocked in less affluent areas.

[Brucetiki]

I don't know whether you call this greed or stupidity, but there's 2 Coles at the Ingle Farm Shopping Centre. It used to be Coles and Bi-Lo, but when Coles decided to wipe the Bi-Lo brand, they did the Coles conversion with the Bi-Lo (like they did with most Bi-Lo's) and now have 2 Coles - one at either end of the centre!

[brod]

I don't know whether you call this greed or stupidity, but there's 2 Coles at the Ingle Farm Shopping Centre. It used to be Coles and Bi-Lo, but when Coles decided to wipe the Bi-Lo brand, they did the Coles conversion with the Bi-Lo (like they did with most Bi-Lo's) and now have 2 Coles - one at either end of the centre!

Simply to ensure no loss of market share at the location

[Strawb]

I don't know whether you call this greed or stupidity, but there's 2 Coles at the Ingle Farm Shopping Centre. It used to be Coles and Bi-Lo, but when Coles decided to wipe the Bi-Lo brand, they did the Coles conversion with the Bi-Lo (like they did with most Bi-Lo's) and now have 2 Coles - one at either end of the centre!

Simply to ensure no loss of market share at the location

Correct Woolworths have 2 stores in Sunshine here in Melbourne one is across the road from the other. Why because one used to be a Jewel and the other was a Woolworths. Also some people would not want to cross the road to go to the Woolworths.

[JAS]

As much as some hate the big supermarket chains one thing to bear in mind is that they also provide employment at all levels from the storefloor up the management chain to the resupply depots and the delivery drivers to the suppliers. A lot of them here and I'm sure over there too sponsor local and national events/sports/charities etc and most of us also probably have financial products and services with companies that are major shareholders.

Yes some small producers do go under but a lot survive so maybe some of those that don't were hanging on by a thread anyway and if it wasn't a supermarket that put them out of business then it would have just as easily been something else...a bad harvest, tax increases, the recession etc.

Not saying I'm a big fan of the coporate giants but most have been around a long time now, it's just the scale that's changed, and I think there's more to the picture than the 'bully' image.

Regards
JAS

[Brucetiki]

I don't know whether you call this greed or stupidity, but there's 2 Coles at the Ingle Farm Shopping Centre. It used to be Coles and Bi-Lo, but when Coles decided to wipe the Bi-Lo brand, they did the Coles conversion with the Bi-Lo (like they did with most Bi-Lo's) and now have 2 Coles - one at either end of the centre!

Simply to ensure no loss of market share at the location

Correct Woolworths have 2 stores in Sunshine here in Melbourne one is across the road from the other. Why because one used to be a Jewel and the other was a Woolworths. Also some people would not want to cross the road to go to the Woolworths.

And the same at Northpark/Regency Plaza - across the road from each other yet both have Woolworths